Arteta: Arsenal seek 'bigger trophies'

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are aiming for "bigger trophies" than the FA Cup that broke their long drought last season.

The Gunners had gone nine years without a trophy before beating Hull City for the cup in May, but Arteta told ESPN FC on Friday that the club sees that as merely a reintroduction for further success to come.

"Hopefully it's the platform we can build on, because I think this club has to be aiming for much bigger trophies and be much more consistent. And hopefully that's the road we take," Arteta said.

"I think the club is very ambitious at the moment with a few good signings as well which is a good sign, and they strengthen the team. I'm very positive toward the future."

Arsene Wenger has already added Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona and Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle this summer, but the Arsenal boss is hardly the only one building up his squad in what could be a wide-open race for the Champions League qualifying spots.

Mikel Arteta says qualifying for the Champions League will be 'even harder' this season.

Arteta said he's wary of the challenge that faces the Gunners this season from the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham.

"It's going to be even harder to get into the Champions League spots with all those teams you just named," Arteta said. "[Some of them] are going to be dropped from Champions League which is going to be a big shock.

"The clubs are investing a lot of money and they are getting stronger and stronger but we know where we're going and we know the road. Arsene is very concentrated and focused on how he wants to do it and hopefully we will do it."

Arteta said the addition of Sanchez, who shone for Chile at the World Cup, will be a difference maker for Arsenal.

"He's a different player. I think his World Cup was really, really impressive," Arteta said. "We are all waiting for him to come. Whether he's coming next week, see how he is, try to help him integrate into the club and the squad as soon as possible, because I think he is going to be a very, very important player for the club."

As for his own role, Arteta said he's happy playing as a deep-lying midfielder despite the limited opportunities it provides to get forward.

"It's different, but since Alex Song left the club to go to Barcelona, they came to me and said, 'Mikel, you can do this role very well. I think you are clever enough to play there,' and I enjoyed it.

"It was a different responsibility, a different things to do on the pitch, but I'm really happy playing it."